Lauren Erickson Van Wart, 44, of Massachusetts, was killed by a shark on Monday while paddleboarding in the Bahamas, according to local officials.
Through a recent press statement, the Royal Bahamas Police Force verified the information. Van Wart was a recent bride who worked at Curriculum Associates as a math editor, according to a news report.
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Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates, stated in a statement distributed to several media channels, “Our team is heartbroken and grieving the loss of a dear and trusted colleague and friend.”
He shared, “Lauren was a beloved member of our math editorial team, and she infused her deep dedication to students and educators into every material she touched. Her commitment to excellence and outstanding work was driven by a higher purpose, focused on improving learning outcomes for all. Our Curriculum Associates community is mourning this tragedy and extends our deepest love and support to Lauren’s wonderful husband and all of her family.”
At about 11:15 a.m., reports of a tourist attacked by a shark reached Nassau police.
Reporters were informed by police that the lady was attacked by a shark while paddleboarding with a male relative less than a mile off the western edge of New Providence Island.
After noticing what was occurring, the on-duty lifeguard launched a rescue boat to get the two people.
Van Wart received CPR, but according to the police, she had major injuries to the right side of her body, particularly to her upper hip and upper leg.
After arriving at the site, emergency responders determined that the woman “showed no vital signs of life,” according to the police. She was paddleboarding with a relative, and she wasn’t hurt.
There have been a few shark-related deaths documented in the Bahamas during the previous five years, according to Gavin Naylor, program director of the International Shark Attack File in Florida, who spoke with a news media.
He said there are “huge” numbers of tourists visiting the Bahamas, a lot of people in the sea, and many of them want to dive with or watch sharks from a fishing boat.
“So the sharks get acclimated, and the animals are a little bit less cautious than they otherwise might be,” he said.
The Bahamas are home to between thirty and forty different shark species, although the most common shark species to bite people are the black tip, tiger, bull, and Caribbean reef sharks, according to Naylor.
“Usually, it’s an accidental bite. They think it’s something else,” he noted. “Once in a while, they’ll actually single out people, and it’s very intentional.”
